Global 10% Tariff in Force, AI Scare Trade Roars Back

Trump's new tariffs, AI disruption, and the future of smart glasses

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The U.S. has implemented a new 10% global tariff, reigniting trade tensions. Meanwhile, the AI 'scare trade' has erupted again, dragging down shares of tech companies. And Meta and EssilorLuxottica are navigating the challenges of bringing smart glasses to market.

Why it matters

The new tariffs could impact global trade and economic growth, while the AI disruption highlights the rapid technological changes impacting various industries. The smart glasses partnership between Meta and EssilorLuxottica also demonstrates the complexities of developing innovative consumer tech products.

The details

The 10% global tariff imposed by the Trump administration went into effect on Tuesday, part of the White House's efforts to preserve the president's trade agenda after the Supreme Court struck down his original sweeping duties. Meanwhile, growing concerns about the disruptive power of AI caused shares of delivery, payments and software companies to drop, with IBM seeing its worst plunge in 25 years. In the smart glasses space, Meta and EssilorLuxottica are navigating different corporate cultures and priorities as they work to bring their joint product to market.

  • The new 10% global tariff went into effect on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • The AI 'scare trade' erupted again on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who imposed the new 10% global tariff.

Jamie Dimon

The CEO of JPMorgan Chase who warned of parallels to the 2008 financial crisis.

Peter Mandelson

A Labour Party grandee arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Meta

The parent company of Facebook, partnering with EssilorLuxottica on smart glasses.

EssilorLuxottica

The eyewear conglomerate partnering with Meta on smart glasses.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The new tariffs, AI disruption, and smart glasses development all highlight the ongoing economic and technological shifts impacting businesses and consumers globally.